Comments on: Frugal with Babies Part II: Make Your Own Baby Food Myth http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/frugal-with-babies-part-ii-make-your-own-baby-food-myth/ This is where your finance takes place Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:13:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Jenn @ Frugal Upstate http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/frugal-with-babies-part-ii-make-your-own-baby-food-myth/comment-page-1/#comment-472 Jenn @ Frugal Upstate Thu, 13 Sep 2007 12:23:39 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/frugal-with-babies-part-ii-make-your-own-baby-food-myth/#comment-472 I was just writing a few days ago about how easy, cheap and healthy homemade baby food is! I think that part of the difference in pricing may be because of difference in countries. I just bought regular grocery store produce and didn't chase around after sales or anything-I know that a single sweet potato or yam would make a bunch of baby food, and that if you look at the cost per ounce against canned you are saving money-but maybe produce is more expensive in Quebec. Also, I'd just throw stuff in my electric steamer-where it would cook while I did other things, then puree in a food processor (with the juice from the steamer) and plunk in icecube trays-so for me the time invoved was minimal. I was also known to "cheat" and use inexpensive canned salt free veggies and just puree them. I was just writing a few days ago about how easy, cheap and healthy homemade baby food is!

I think that part of the difference in pricing may be because of difference in countries. I just bought regular grocery store produce and didn’t chase around after sales or anything-I know that a single sweet potato or yam would make a bunch of baby food, and that if you look at the cost per ounce against canned you are saving money-but maybe produce is more expensive in Quebec.

Also, I’d just throw stuff in my electric steamer-where it would cook while I did other things, then puree in a food processor (with the juice from the steamer) and plunk in icecube trays-so for me the time invoved was minimal. I was also known to “cheat” and use inexpensive canned salt free veggies and just puree them.

]]> By: A Carnival and a Festival Yeehaw! | I've Paid For This Twice Already... http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/frugal-with-babies-part-ii-make-your-own-baby-food-myth/comment-page-1/#comment-467 A Carnival and a Festival Yeehaw! | I've Paid For This Twice Already... Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:47:08 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/frugal-with-babies-part-ii-make-your-own-baby-food-myth/#comment-467 [...] Frugal with Babies Part II: Make Your Own Baby Food Myth at The Financial Blogger, talking about commercial baby food being cheaper and healthier than homemade. Well - sorry, but… nope. I’ve been there done that twice now and done numerous calculations on cost and waste and usage and every time, my homemade food wins hands down. And it is tastier too :). I picked this article to highlight because it is like the power of propaganda times a whole bunch. Added vitamins after the fact do not make something better (and often baby’s system can’t even absorb the added vitamin versions) and as for cheaper, I guess it matters what you buy and how much you waste in each version. And you will never ever find the variety of baby food you can make yourself. My daughter’s favorite food is avocado and I never would have known it if all she ate was jarred foods. The Financial Blogger decided to strike a balance and use both homemade and commercially prepared foods, yay for still using some homemade :). Okay I went on and on about that one lol. [...] [...] Frugal with Babies Part II: Make Your Own Baby Food Myth at The Financial Blogger, talking about commercial baby food being cheaper and healthier than homemade. Well – sorry, but… nope. I’ve been there done that twice now and done numerous calculations on cost and waste and usage and every time, my homemade food wins hands down. And it is tastier too :) . I picked this article to highlight because it is like the power of propaganda times a whole bunch. Added vitamins after the fact do not make something better (and often baby’s system can’t even absorb the added vitamin versions) and as for cheaper, I guess it matters what you buy and how much you waste in each version. And you will never ever find the variety of baby food you can make yourself. My daughter’s favorite food is avocado and I never would have known it if all she ate was jarred foods. The Financial Blogger decided to strike a balance and use both homemade and commercially prepared foods, yay for still using some homemade :) . Okay I went on and on about that one lol. [...]

]]> By: Emily http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/frugal-with-babies-part-ii-make-your-own-baby-food-myth/comment-page-1/#comment-466 Emily Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:43:59 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/frugal-with-babies-part-ii-make-your-own-baby-food-myth/#comment-466 This is an interesting concept. However, given Nestlé's penchant for unethical marketing, I don't believe it for a second. I do know that carrots, if you purée, should be storebought due to the possibly toxic level of nitrates. Other than that? My opinion is: why bother? My son never ate more than two or three spoonfuls of baby food. Not for lack of trying! After a month of him not eating anything, I gave up and just kept breastfeeding. Then, at about 8 months, he started showing interest in the food I would eat. So, I started feeding it to him. Little bits of fruit were easy for him to eat, as well as soft, pre-cooked vegetables. Even lettuce, as long as I chewed it a bit for him first. (Sounds gross, but it's really no big deal) Now, the kid will eat just about anything, and it saves us loads on buying baby food--or taking the time to make baby food. I'm just saying that you don't necessarily have to purée food in order to feed it to a baby. This is an interesting concept. However, given Nestlé’s penchant for unethical marketing, I don’t believe it for a second.

I do know that carrots, if you purée, should be storebought due to the possibly toxic level of nitrates. Other than that? My opinion is: why bother?

My son never ate more than two or three spoonfuls of baby food. Not for lack of trying! After a month of him not eating anything, I gave up and just kept breastfeeding. Then, at about 8 months, he started showing interest in the food I would eat. So, I started feeding it to him. Little bits of fruit were easy for him to eat, as well as soft, pre-cooked vegetables. Even lettuce, as long as I chewed it a bit for him first. (Sounds gross, but it’s really no big deal)

Now, the kid will eat just about anything, and it saves us loads on buying baby food–or taking the time to make baby food. I’m just saying that you don’t necessarily have to purée food in order to feed it to a baby.

]]> By: The Financial Blogger http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/frugal-with-babies-part-ii-make-your-own-baby-food-myth/comment-page-1/#comment-463 The Financial Blogger Wed, 12 Sep 2007 02:23:53 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/frugal-with-babies-part-ii-make-your-own-baby-food-myth/#comment-463 MotherS, my first son was an unusual kid on many levels. He didn't sleep in the stroller nor in the car (until I reach the driving speed of 60 miles/hr). He was climbing the stairs before he could sit down and he jumped off his crib at the age of 8 months (and the crib was at its lowest level). He was constantly screaming and could never sleep for more than 1/2hr in a row (sorry for new parents-to-be, they are not all the same!). So I simply consider my first one as an exception and I am not expecting my newborn little girl to refuse breastfeeding that shortly! I agree with you that babies do not refuse breastfeeding that fast! MotherS,
my first son was an unusual kid on many levels. He didn’t sleep in the stroller nor in the car (until I reach the driving speed of 60 miles/hr). He was climbing the stairs before he could sit down and he jumped off his crib at the age of 8 months (and the crib was at its lowest level). He was constantly screaming and could never sleep for more than 1/2hr in a row (sorry for new parents-to-be, they are not all the same!).

So I simply consider my first one as an exception and I am not expecting my newborn little girl to refuse breastfeeding that shortly! I agree with you that babies do not refuse breastfeeding that fast!

]]> By: Mothersong http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/frugal-with-babies-part-ii-make-your-own-baby-food-myth/comment-page-1/#comment-461 Mothersong Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:53:56 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/frugal-with-babies-part-ii-make-your-own-baby-food-myth/#comment-461 I think one key to homemade baby food being less expensive is to actually be eating lots of vegetables and fruits yourself that you can "smoosh" for baby to eat. Although there is a certain convenience to vegetables and fruits in a jar, as the baby grow he or she is dependent on the family diet.. If you are not already eating lots of child nourishing foods, the "grind it up" stage is a great time to start. The habit of having a variety of healthy foods is already in place when the child moves on to mature foods. It is not more expensive to feed an infant or young child food that you are already making and eating for yourself. You just need to remove a small prtion before seasoning. (Or not. My children preferred seasoned food to plain) FWIW, it's rare for a baby to refuse to breast totally at six months and not return to nursing. Not a evolutionarily sound idea for survival. :-) If you have any other children, your wife should speak with a lactation consultant or a La Leche League leader to help her over a tough spot like that. The AAP recommends that all children be breastfed for at least the first year of life, and for as long afterwards as mutually desired. I think one key to homemade baby food being less expensive is to actually be eating lots of vegetables and fruits yourself that you can “smoosh” for baby to eat.

Although there is a certain convenience to vegetables and fruits in a jar, as the baby grow he or she is dependent on the family diet.. If you are not already eating lots of child nourishing foods, the “grind it up” stage is a great time to start. The habit of having a variety of healthy foods is already in place when the child moves on to mature foods.

It is not more expensive to feed an infant or young child food that you are already making and eating for yourself. You just need to remove a small prtion before seasoning. (Or not. My children preferred seasoned food to plain)

FWIW, it’s rare for a baby to refuse to breast totally at six months and not return to nursing. Not a evolutionarily sound idea for survival. :-) If you have any other children, your wife should speak with a lactation consultant or a La Leche League leader to help her over a tough spot like that. The AAP recommends that all children be breastfed for at least the first year of life, and for as long afterwards as mutually desired.

]]> By: The Financial Blogger http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/frugal-with-babies-part-ii-make-your-own-baby-food-myth/comment-page-1/#comment-449 The Financial Blogger Mon, 10 Sep 2007 04:04:32 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/frugal-with-babies-part-ii-make-your-own-baby-food-myth/#comment-449 Frugalbabe, That is a very interesting point. I think that we are so "brainwashed" by our new methods that we tend to forget what our parents use to do. I can easily remember a ton of things that my parents used to do for me that are not part of what is advertised by doctors these days. Thx for bringing this point up! However, I don't think that every mother can breastfeed until the age of 24 months. My son for example didn't want my wife's breast at the age of 6 month. He totally refused it. Therefore, we needed to make up before he eat regular food. Frugalbabe,
That is a very interesting point. I think that we are so “brainwashed” by our new methods that we tend to forget what our parents use to do. I can easily remember a ton of things that my parents used to do for me that are not part of what is advertised by doctors these days. Thx for bringing this point up!

However, I don’t think that every mother can breastfeed until the age of 24 months. My son for example didn’t want my wife’s breast at the age of 6 month. He totally refused it. Therefore, we needed to make up before he eat regular food.

]]> By: FrugalBabe http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/frugal-with-babies-part-ii-make-your-own-baby-food-myth/comment-page-1/#comment-446 FrugalBabe Sun, 09 Sep 2007 21:44:18 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/frugal-with-babies-part-ii-make-your-own-baby-food-myth/#comment-446 My parents raised four children without ever buying baby food or making baby food in batches, canning, etc. My mother breast fed each of us for 12 - 24 months, and when we got teeth, she started giving us solid food in addition to breast milk. She had a food grinder clamped on the side of the kitchen table, and she would grind up whatever the rest of the family was having and give it to the baby. All four of us are very healthy, and I cannot think of a single vegetable (or any other food for that matter) that any of us doesn't like. My parents raised four children without ever buying baby food or making baby food in batches, canning, etc. My mother breast fed each of us for 12 – 24 months, and when we got teeth, she started giving us solid food in addition to breast milk. She had a food grinder clamped on the side of the kitchen table, and she would grind up whatever the rest of the family was having and give it to the baby. All four of us are very healthy, and I cannot think of a single vegetable (or any other food for that matter) that any of us doesn’t like.

]]> By: Stephanie http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/frugal-with-babies-part-ii-make-your-own-baby-food-myth/comment-page-1/#comment-443 Stephanie Sun, 09 Sep 2007 01:33:42 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/frugal-with-babies-part-ii-make-your-own-baby-food-myth/#comment-443 Hmmm that is interesting. We have four children too. I rarely made baby food in batches, mostly just pureed what we were having for dinner before I added any fat or spice. It worked well for us and was almost no hassle. Hmmm that is interesting. We have four children too. I rarely made baby food in batches, mostly just pureed what we were having for dinner before I added any fat or spice. It worked well for us and was almost no hassle.

]]> By: The Financial Blogger http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/frugal-with-babies-part-ii-make-your-own-baby-food-myth/comment-page-1/#comment-428 The Financial Blogger Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:24:21 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/frugal-with-babies-part-ii-make-your-own-baby-food-myth/#comment-428 Chris, 4 kids, 2 jobs, jeez! That's a lot on your plate (and I'm not even counting vegetables!). I think that the most important thing is to transmit good and healthy eating habits such as eating vegetables on a regular basis and fruits as desert (instead of highly chemical, but so tasty, caramel pudding). Chris,
4 kids, 2 jobs, jeez! That’s a lot on your plate (and I’m not even counting vegetables!).

I think that the most important thing is to transmit good and healthy eating habits such as eating vegetables on a regular basis and fruits as desert (instead of highly chemical, but so tasty, caramel pudding).

]]> By: Chris http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/frugal-with-babies-part-ii-make-your-own-baby-food-myth/comment-page-1/#comment-424 Chris Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:27:29 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/frugal-with-babies-part-ii-make-your-own-baby-food-myth/#comment-424 We have 4 kids. Our youngest is 2 years old and her favorite foods are whatever is on her daddy's plate (that's me). We have a 3 year old son. And our oldest (twins) are 7 years old. Each of them was raised on the baby jar food. Mind you, that was only for about 4-5 months, and then they wanted our table food. By this I mean that they wanted the vegetables off our plates. So we simply started putting a couple of pieces at a time onto their plate. By the time they were 1 1/2 years old, they would literally eat corn on the cob without a problem. The vegetables that they eat are almost unlimited. It is a rare occasion when we find a vegetable that they won't eat (or at least try). And don't get me started with fresh fruit :grin: We also started them on Gerber fruit jars as well. We live in the state of NJ and we live within 10 minutes of several fresh produce stands that we frequent during the season, but you can't produce fruits all year long due to the weather conditions. We have 4 kids.
Our youngest is 2 years old and her favorite foods are whatever is on her daddy’s plate (that’s me). We have a 3 year old son. And our oldest (twins) are 7 years old.
Each of them was raised on the baby jar food. Mind you, that was only for about 4-5 months, and then they wanted our table food. By this I mean that they wanted the vegetables off our plates. So we simply started putting a couple of pieces at a time onto their plate.
By the time they were 1 1/2 years old, they would literally eat corn on the cob without a problem.
The vegetables that they eat are almost unlimited. It is a rare occasion when we find a vegetable that they won’t eat (or at least try).
And don’t get me started with fresh fruit :grin: We also started them on Gerber fruit jars as well.
We live in the state of NJ and we live within 10 minutes of several fresh produce stands that we frequent during the season, but you can’t produce fruits all year long due to the weather conditions.

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